Assailant 'Anti-Semite First, Madman Second'

Following stabbing of rabbi, French Jewish leader says there has been a 60% rise in anti-Semitism.

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Gil Ronen, 23/04/13 14:06

Knife

Israel news photo: Flash 90

"He may be mentally ill but he is, first and foremost, an anti-Semite who attacked a Jew," a French Jewish leader said of the assailant who stabbed a rabbi and his son in Paris.

Meir Haviv, Deputy Chairman of Jewish umbrella group CRIF (Conseil Représentatif des Institutions Juives de France) told Arutz Sheva that the two were stabbed in the throat, and added that "two more centimeters and it would have ended in death."

"With the grace of G-d," Haviv said, "[the rabbi] is out of danger and his son is also lightly wounded, but I am treating this as if he had murdered the father and son."

"We know that the administration is doing the maximum," he said. "But on the other hand, people are being killed because they are Jews. There is a rise of about 60% in anti-Semitism. This is a concern, not just for Jews but for all of France."

"Life in France will become more complicated," he added. "There is no magic solution and I have no complaint toward the government."